Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review
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Abstract
Background: Evidence on gender-based violence during pregnancy in Nigeria is heterogeneous, as pregnancies are at risk of maternal and fetal health problems. This systematic review aimed to summarise the prevalence, as well as factors, patterns, consequences, and disclosure, among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Nigeria.
Methods: Studies conducted between 2000 and 2026 August were identified through the three search engines: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as CINAHL, African Journals Online, Google Scholar, and Nigerian repositories. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used for study selection, and methodological quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence checklist.
Results: 1,903 records were identified, and of these, 33 reports were included; 28 prevalence evidence and 5 for thematic synthesis. The number of samples varied from 137 to 500. Prevalence estimates ranged from 2.3% to 72.0%, with a median prevalence of 31.8%. Psychological, emotional and verbal violence was the most common form of violence, followed by sexual and physical violence. The most common perpetrators were the husband or the intimate partner. Other contributing factors were having a low education, unemployment, poverty, polygamous marriages, alcohol use in the partner, multiple sexual partners and family dysfunction and past violence. This resulted in injury, anaemia, depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as in miscarriage, premature birth and low levels of disclosure and help-seeking.
Conclusion: There is a need for introducing a multi-dimensional prenatal screening of cases of survivors with a confidential pathway to medical, psycho-social, legal and protection referral.
Keywords
antenatal caredomestic violencegender-based violenceintimate partner violenceNigeriapregnancyprevalencerisk factorsHow to Cite
Ayeni, C. O., Momoh, P. O., Omwenke, I. W., Oyaromade, A., & Ekochin, C. N. (2026). Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 7(3), 236-245. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.3.236-245
Ayeni, Christabel Oyowo, et al. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, vol. 7, no. 3, 2026, pp. 236-245. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.3.236-245.
Ayeni, C. O., Momoh, P. O., Omwenke, I. W., Oyaromade, A. and Ekochin, C. N. (2026) 'Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review', International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 7(3), pp. 236-245. doi: 10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.3.236-245.
Ayeni CO, Momoh PO, Omwenke IW, Oyaromade A, Ekochin CN. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gender-Based Violence among Pregnant women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research. 2026;7(3):236-245. doi:10.54660/IJMBHR.2026.7.3.236-245
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